Phobias

Question 1

According to the DSM-5 what are the categories of phobias?

Answer 1

Specific phobia- eg. Animal, object, body part etc

Social anxiety- eg. Using a public toilet, social speaking etc

Agoraphobia- phobia of the outside

Question 2

List the 3 behavioural characteristics of phobias and examples

Answer 2

Panic- eg. Crying when seeing a spider

Avoidance- eg. Make effort to avoid spiders

Endurance- eg. Remain in the presence of a spider to see if it moves

Question 3

List one emotional characteristics of phobias and examples

Answer 3

Anxiety- experience immense fear when seeing a spider (arachnophobia)

Question 4

Describe what is meant by emotional responses being unreasonable

Answer 4

Eg. Immense fear of a spider is irrational to the danger posed by the spider

Question 5

List the three cognitive characteristics of phobias and examples

Answer 5

Selective attention to phobic stimulus- if they can see a phobic stimulus it is hard to look away eg. Stare at a spider to see where it goes.

Irrational beliefs- eg. Social phobias can involve beliefs such as ‘if i blush people will think i am weak’

Cognitive distortions- phobic’s perception of the phobic stimulus may be distorted